He just wants to play regularly – like anyone else.
While James McClean was the hero of Ireland’s World Cup qualifying campaign, this season has been a trying one at West Brom. The Derry man has found starting opportunities hard to come by. He has made 25 appearances for the Baggies but just nine have been from the start and, at 28, he is beginning to give serious thought to his long-term future at such a critical time in his career.
McClean was a regular for the Baggies during his first year at the Hawthorns following a move from Wigan in 2015 but, over the past 18 months, he has been forced to play a bit-part role. As with any professional footballer, spending a considerable portion of the season on the bench becomes the source of growing angst.
With the Creggan native creeping towards 30, his desire to play regularly is as intense as ever and it explains why he will be prepared to leave West Brom in the summer unless his situation under Alan Pardew changes.
Speaking to the Derry Journal, McClean said: “I want regular football, wherever that may be. If it’s the right fit for me and it provides me with regular football then I’m open to anything.
“I just want to play football. I’m 28 now and the last 18 months have been really frustrating. I feel that I’m at my best when I get a run of games. I feel that’s eluded me this past 18 months when I would get a few games and then the team is changed for whatever reason.”
“Ideally I’d rather play week-in, week-out at West Brom but that hasn’t been the case at the minute. I’ll work hard like I always do but, for me, regular football is the be all and end all. “We’re in a relegation fight now at West Brom and we need everyone pulling the same direction. I’ll give 110 per cent while I’m at West Brom to make sure we get the best results possible.”
Derby manager Gary Rowett was keen to secure McClean’s services as the Rams chase promotion to the Premier League, but the Championship club were priced out of a deal by West Brom, who slapped a hefty £15m on the player’s head.
“There was no loan offer from Derby. It was a permanent deal but it didn’t materialise,” McClean added. “West Brom had their value and I’m not in the game to dictate my value – that’s up to clubs to do. I think West Brom wanted £15 million but Derby weren’t prepared to pay that whether I think that’s wrong or not, it’s not up to me to say.”
Derby would have offered an exciting challenge for McClean. The Rams have an impressive project under Rowett, who has established himself as one of the most promising young managers in the English game, and helping their bid for promotion would have certainly been appealing for McClean.
However, like he said, he is at West Brom until the end of the season and he will, as ever, make the most of any opportunities he is given. The Baggies are currently rock bottom of the table, four points from safety, and face a daunting trip to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea next Monday night.
Following the 3-2 home defeat to fellow strugglers Southampton on Saturday, Pardew may look to make a few changes to his starting line-up. McClean came on as a 77th-minute replacement for Allan Nyom against the Saints and will be pushing for a starting berth against the champions, but faces stiff competition from Oliver Burke, the 20-year-old Scot who has also found regular starting football hard to come by following his summer move from RB Leipzig.
